ââ§â
Pakhi giggled when he kept pampering her face with kisses.
" Enough enough," she pushed him lightly and continued brushing her hair.
He hugged her from behind and placed his chin on her shoulder.
" I love you so much," he said and kissed her jaw.
She smiled and put the comb down. He broke the hug and walked toward the bed.
" In a few days, there will be a reception of my.... superior. I want you to be prepared."
He found the word ' superior' better than 'boss'. She frowned and faced him, " wasn't it the wedding?"
He grabbed his belt from the bed and started putting it on.
" Something happened. I will tell you everything in brief some other day."
" I don't want to know. It must be related to fighting and all."
No matter how much he tries to hide the underworld truth from her, she has already concluded that he's included in the underworld.
" Trust me, you would love to know the full story. It is really your type."
" Whatever," she muttered and opened the almirah. She took out a small box from it and walked toward Aryan.
" What is it?"
He asked, staring at her with a silly smile. She opened the box and showed him a luxurious watch.
" Is it for me?"
He smiled.
" No for me. Do you think my hands are this big?"
She shook her head in disbelief. He chuckled and she took out the watch from the box.
" Forward your hand," she said and he did.
She smiled while making him wear the watch.
" I bought it from Goa without your knowledge," she told him.
He cupped her cheeks then kissed her lips for a moment.
" Thank you," he said and tucked the strands of her hair behind the ear.
" Now you may go," she stepped back and his smile dropped.
" Wives want their husbands to stay with them and you? You keep driving me away," he complained and sat on the bed to wear his shoes.
She laughed lightly, " what will you do the whole day at home?"
He smiled stupidly, " tumhe pyar."
( Love you.)
She forwarded a judgemental look at him, " you are such a stupid man."
" Pyar mein andhe hote hain log, mai pagal hi sahi," he said and she ended up giggling.
( People are blind in love, I am better off being mad.)
He got ready and both left the room together. After having breakfast, Aryan drove off to his firm.
Pakhi exhaled heavily, staring at herself in the mirror. She is glowing. Don't know why but she is really glowing. Is it because of him? She did not even do skincare for the past some days.
" Maybe," she whispered and shrugged her shoulders. She turned around, " oh."
She walked toward the bed and grabbed his mobile, " he forgot his device."
She chewed her lower lip and pressed the button to open it. Her heart fluttered seeing her own lock screen wallpaper.
She sat on the bed and swiped the screen up. Oh oh, it is locked.
" Uhm.. is it 0000?"
She tapped zero four times but the phone did not unlock. She tried 3 more times with his birthday date, the first 4 digits of his phone number and a random number but the device was not unlocked.
She accepted her defeat and put the mobile back on the bed. The very next second she picked up his mobile and tried unlocking the device with her birthdate.
And guess what?
The device unlocked.
Her heart skipped a beat and a smile formed on her lips. His home screen wallpaper was of her. Only the photo was different from the lock screen one.
She tapped on the gallery and tilted her head slightly seeing so many photos of hers. It seems as if he has kept only her in every corner of his life. As if he identifies himself with her name and not his own.
He has clicked many beautiful pictures. Many of the photos are from her time in Goa. Some photos are of her sleeping, some watching TV, some eating food etc. He has taken all these secretly, that is why she has no idea that there are so many photos in her mobile.
She was smiling while going through all the pictures and did not realise when time skipped to 15 minutes. His phone rang suddenly.
Office.
She accepted the call and put it against her ear.
" Hello?"
" Oh, thank God. I thought I lost it."
Aryan said.
" Is it your number as well?"
Pakhi asked.
" Yes, call me on this number if you need something."
" Okay," she replied and he disconnected the call.
She was about to shut his mobile when a message popped on the screen.
Are you coming or not?
She bit the corner of her lower lip, hesitating to invade his privacy. It's a bad habit- she reminded herself but curiosity killed the cat when another message popped up.
I'll be waiting for you at the restaurant.
She gulped, seeing the person's id who messaged him. Jivika Rao.
She licked her mobile and tapped on the message even though the habit is bad. In the message, she saw Jivika telling him about something really important which can help him in his mission. To give this thing, she has called him to a restaurant which is near his firm. He should be there at 5PM.
She sighed heavily and put his mobile back.
" What will they talk about? What does she want to give him?"
She fidget with her fingers, watching the dressing table worriedly. She knows the address. She knows the time. Should she check it once?
" No no no, he'll feel bad," she said.
But again, she is restless. She dislikes Jivika. She doesn't want her anywhere near him. That lady is cunning and very smart with her mouth to fool people. What if she put evil intentions on her husband? But, is Aryan that stupid? Not at all.
To satisfy her heart, she decided that she would go there and see it once.
Then what else? She waited for the clock to hit 4 then she got ready hurriedly and left the house. She told the driver her destination.
Due to traffic, it took them a lot of time to reach there. She was afraid that Aryan and Jivika might have gone back. But fortunately, when she reached the restaurant she saw Aryan entering it.
She stayed inside the car and wondered how to go inside. What if he catches her?
She and the driver both failed to notice a truck which had been following them for the past 30 minutes.
After thinking for 10 minutes straight, Pakhi dialled his number. He picked up the call in 5 rings.
" Yes, biwi?"
" Where are you?" she asked with fingers crossed.
" At a restaurant. Having a meeting with someone. Why?"
A smile instantly made its way to her lips, hearing nothing but truth from his mouth, " which one?"
Aryan told the restaurant's name.
" I am right outside it," she said.
" Really? Just wait for a moment. I am on the way."
Pakhi disconnected the call.
The truck driver received a call.
" Yes boss?"
" Drive now. Make sure he doesn't find pieces of his wife. Crush the fucking lady."
" Okay boss," he disconnected the call.
His phone dropped from his hand and he crouched down to pick it up. He ignited the engine and glared at Pakhi's car.
( Before Pakhi made a call.)
Aryan sat opposite to Jivika.
" Come straight to the point."
" No hello no hug. What a gentleman," Jivika commented and opened her purse then took out a pen drive from it.
" What's that?" Aryan asked.
" In this, there are videos of Rao's gang criminal activities."
" How did you get this?"
" Tum aam khao gutli kyu gin rahe ho?"
( You should eat the mango, why are you counting the seeds?)
She grabbed her laptop bag and took the laptop out. Aryan stared at her silently as she inserted the drive in laptop and turned the screen to him. His eyes enlarged slightly and he sat attentively when he saw so many criminal activities of the Rao gang in videos.
Some were about rape and some were about murder. There were many such videos.
" This-"
He was about to pull out the pendrive when Jivika put her hand on him.
" No, not so fast."
Aryan withdrew his hand. Jivika closed the laptop and kept pendrive to herself.
" You can get this but you will have to pay for it."
He knitted his eyebrows because how can a wealthy woman like her demand money. She has everything but still he gave it a try, " how much do you want?"
She chuckled and tucked the strands of her hair behind the ear, " so desperate, hn?"
She took a pause of a few seconds before replying, " I want one night of yours."
He chuckled lightly as disgust rushed down his spine.
" I am not for sale, Ms. Rao. I belong to my wife."
" When did I ask to be your wife? I just want one night of yours.."
Aryan clenched his jaw, " keep the fucking chip to yourself."
He was about to leave but just then his phone rang. He picked up the call of Pakhi and uttered while staring deep into the eyes of Jivika.
" Yes, biwi?"
She kept the smirk on her face while he talked to his wife. He disconnected the call and stood up.
" I hope we don't meet again."
As he walked past her, she said suddenly,
" No no, Mr. Chauhan. We have to meet. I am very useful. Just come to me for one night."
Jivika said. Aryan did not reply and walked away. Smile formed on his lips thinking about Pakhi. But how did she come here?
He climbed down the stairs and eventually made his way out of the restaurant. He waited to cross the road because her car was parked on the other side.
He lifted his foot to walk when the road cleared for a while but in a blink of an eye, A truck came at full speed and crushed Pakhi's car and also damaged 2-4 people and a bike standing nearby.
He hold its breath for second before coming back to reality. Pakhi's car catches fire from the front side due to being hit by the tree harshly.
" P..Pakhi," he whispered and ran to the car.
ââ§â
Today was the best day ever for Jaydev, if compared to others. He could witness 45 girls reaching their respective homes. Somebody's grandparents, somebody's parents, somebody's siblings - all of them looked at him with generous eyes and folded their hands and said thank you.
Eventually this news reached the news. This was Commissioner Ravi's strategy. He openly threatened the gang through the news.
The rule of goons will not last long. We also have weapons, we will enter and kill them- Commissioner Ravi.
Jaydev turned off the video and put the mobile in his jacket pocket. He looked outside the window and frowned straight at the maingate of Shruti's university.
He has been waiting here since the last 15 minutes and surprisingly Shruti has not come out yet. It's her usual time.
He came out of the car and made his way inside the university. He reached near the main gate when professor Tarun came to his direction while talking to someone via call.
He caught Jaydev's sight and frowned, standing in front of him.
" Hello, sir."
Jaydev looked at him and reciprocated the polite greeting, completely ignoring the fact that he is irritated by his presence around Shruti.
" Shruti went home long ago."
Jaydev frowned, " she went?"
" Yes," Tarun replied.
He nodded lightly and turned around to go back to his car. He drove away from there and exhaled heavily.
How dare she not tell him and go home alone? But again, it is he who has created these distances. She has no fault. But one step of hers totally ruined his mood.
He just wants to see her at home now.
His phone rang and as he picked up the call, he received a duty at the police station. Okay, his mood is destroyed now. He completed his work early just to be with Shruti more because he doesn't have many days left.
" Very well," he gritted his teeth and changed the gear.
Likewise, by the time he finished his work it was 9 o'clock in the night and then he reached his home. He roamed his eyes in the living room and saw everyone except Shruti.
" What are you all doing?"
He asked as the three of them seemed busy laughing at some topic.
" Nothing, just finding a girl for you."
Rohini threw a bomb at him. He refrained himself from rolling his eyes.
" Not again, mami."
He made a displeasing face and walked upstairs.
" Won't you have dinner?"
" No!"
He replied aloud to his grandmother. He opened the door of his room and the expected peace soon passed by him when he found her asleep on the bed.
He stepped inside and closed the door. He gulped down his saliva, stared at her figure for some good seconds. He clicked his tongue and started walking forward while removing his coat and shirt one by one.
He went to the bathroom to wash his face, hands and feet. He thought that Shruti was probably pretending and would get up soon because the drama cannot be continued for longer than that, but how wrong he was. She was really sleeping, soundlessly.
He threw the towel on the couch and climbed up on the bed. He turned to her direction and raised his hand to wrap it around her waist but stopped just a few inches away.
He shook his head and withdrew his hand then lay on his back to sleep. Those closeness, these distances â he wanted both and Shruti blindly followed whatever he wanted. Then why is he having so much trouble now? Nearby is a river called love, which has just emerged and far away is the desert of loneliness which he has chosen for himself. Still, why is he thirsty?
Why wouldn't he have any trouble? How difficult it is for him to suppress his rising emotions just because of a word of the four alphabets- fear.
He is afraid that his past may overshadow his present. He is afraid that he may lose Shruti as well. Is he ready to leave Shruti? Will he be able to live without her? Will he be able to bear the loneliness?
He turned his back at her and closed his eyes, letting the silent tears stream down from his eyes.
He has to. He has to bear the loneliness. Otherwise, he'll lose her.
Eventually sleep consumed him and next morning when he woke up, he did not find the bubbly girl in the room. Maybe she's having breakfast. He nodded at himself and got down from the bed.
He hurriedly freshened up and got ready. He went downstairs and to his surprise, he did not find Shruti in the dining room.
" Where is Shruti?"
He asked his family.
" She left for university," Rohini replied.
Anger flickered in his eyes which he quickly hid and sat to have breakfast, just to show everyone that he is not affected at all. He had lost his appetite. He has not shared a single conversation with her since yesterday morning.
He just ate a little breakfast and left for the police station even though his family tried stopping and having more breakfast.
He has to wait till evening. He will go to her university 1 hour prior today.
Today was hectic. Pakhi almost got saved from the accident. He was the in-charge of the accident.
Unfortunately, nothing went according to his plan. Shruti left the universe at noon.
" Ahhh!"
He groaned and hit the steering wheel.
" Fuck! I wanna kill myself," he dropped his head on the wheel. He grabbed his mobile and dialled her number.
She picked up the call.
" Yes?"
She replied, sounded normal as if she was not ignoring him on purpose.
" Where are you?"
He asked, his tone depicted desperation.
" Nowhere-"
" Are you at home?"
He interrupted her and started driving by holding the phone with one hand.
" No," Shruti replied.
" Then?"
She took a pause of a few seconds.
" I'll be late tonight. My friend is throwing anniversary party-"
" How many fucking friends you have?"
His voice raised in frustration.
" Listen, do not curse. I will do what I want. Anyway, the divorce is going to happen in 4 days. It would be better if we distance ourselves from now."
He nodded and gulped down his anger before saying, " better."
He disconnected the call and threw it on the passenger seat. He ran his fingers into his hair and sped up the car.
" Stay wherever the hell you want. I do not fucking care."
He clenched his jaw and turned his car to the police station. Shruti did not call him again, neither did he.
He reached home at the usual time but Shruti wasn't home. She has informed Rohini about her delay but not him.
" Jay-"
" Not now, Mami. My head is freaking exploding."
He replied and walked upstairs. He entered his room and closed the door with a bang.
He freshened up, changed his clothes but Shruti did not come. He did not sleep and waited for her instead. Clock hit 11:30 and just then the door of his room opened.
That's where she was.
She glanced at him for a second then walked toward the couch. She put the purse on it and went to the bathroom with her night dress.
He did not say anything till then and kept staring at her. She came out, crushed her hair then climbed up on the bed to sleep.
" 11 fucking 30. Is this the time to come home? Why did you come? You could have stayed there," he snapped at her.
She lay down on her back and covered herself till chest with a duvet.
" I had thought about it but had to come for formalities," she replied.
He chuckled sarcastically, " formalities."
She faced him and placed her palm under her cheek, " Are the divorce papers ready?"
He fisted his hand under the duvet and nodded, " soon. Don't worry."
" I am not. I'll be thankfully free from this troublesome relationship," she replied.
He looked at her face and regretted the next second because she was smiling. She frowned when he suddenly sat up and grabbed his pillow then went down from the bed.
" Ab kahan jaa rahe ho?"
( Where are you going now?)
" Couch par sone? Aadat daal raha hu akele sone ki. Vaise bhi tum pura bistar apna bana kar baithi ho."
( To sleep on the couch? I am getting into the habit of sleeping alone. Moreover, you cover the whole bed.)
He lay down on the couch. She chuckled, " acha? Jab mai chali jaungi to ye bed bhi bhj dena mere sath. Kahin aapko meri yaad na aane lag jaaye."
( Okay, send this bed to me. What if you start missing me?)
He turned his back to her. She shook her head in disbelief and closed her eyes to sleep.
20 minutes later,
She almost drifted into her dreamland when she felt bed dipping beside her. She mentally smiled as he slipped into the same duvet as her and slept while facing her.
She chose not to open her eyes and maybe, he fought with himself for 5 minutes straight then wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to himself.
She, too, got comfortable in his embrace which did not last longer than 2 minutes because he turned his back at her- like he did not want to turn weak.
ââ§â
230+ votes!
Read more chapters in scrollstack.
Youtube id- SSneha
instagram- sneha_singh_rk
scrollstack id- SSneha7
Liked the chapter?
Favorite part?
Share your views